How to Check Your SSDI Application Status (and What Each Status Really Means)

If you applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and want to know where your case stands, you have a few specific ways to check your SSDI status and a small number of common reasons it may look “stuck.”

Quick summary: How to check your SSDI status today

• Official system: SSDI is handled by the Social Security Administration (SSA) through your local Social Security field office and state Disability Determination Services (DDS).
• Fastest way to check: Use your my Social Security online account or call your local Social Security office.
• Typical statuses: Application received, initial review at DDS, medical review, decision made, approved (pending payment setup), or denied (with appeal options).
• Concrete action you can take today:Create or log in to your my Social Security account and check your “Disability” application status.
• If online access is a problem:Call your Social Security field office and ask, “Can you tell me the current status of my SSDI application and what you are waiting on?”

Rules, timeframes, and procedures can vary somewhat by state and by your specific situation, but the basic status options and system touchpoints are fairly standard nationwide.

What “SSDI status” actually refers to

When people talk about SSDI status, they usually mean one of two things: where their application is in the process or whether their benefits are currently active, suspended, or terminated once approved.

For a new application, your SSDI status describes steps like whether your application was received, whether your medical records are being collected, and whether a decision has been made.
For current beneficiaries, SSDI status can refer to whether your checks are continuing as usual, under review, or affected by a work or medical review.

Key terms to know:

• SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) — A federal disability benefit paid by the SSA to workers who paid enough into Social Security and can’t work at substantial levels due to a disability expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.
• SSA (Social Security Administration) — The federal agency that runs SSDI; your local Social Security field office is your main in-person/phone contact.
• DDS (Disability Determination Services) — A state-level agency that gathers medical records and makes the medical decision on your SSDI claim for SSA.
• my Social Security account — SSA’s online portal where you can typically see your SSDI application status and, once approved, benefit and payment information.

Where to check your SSDI status through official channels

For SSDI, the only official systems are run by the Social Security Administration and the state Disability Determination Services working for SSA.

Your main official touchpoints are:

• Social Security field office (local office that took your claim or processes changes).
• SSA’s online “my Social Security” portal (to check application and benefit status).
• DDS office (you usually can’t apply there, but you might get calls or letters from them about medical records).

To find the right place:

• Search for the official Social Security Administration website and look for “Sign In or Create an Account” to access your my Social Security portal.
• To reach a person by phone, search for your local “Social Security office locator”, enter your ZIP code, and call the number from the .gov site.

A simple phone script you can use:
“Hi, I applied for SSDI on [month/day/year]. Could you please tell me the current status of my disability application and whether you are waiting for anything from me or my doctors?”

Documents you’ll typically need when checking or clarifying status

You usually don’t need a full stack of papers just to ask for your SSDI status, but if you want to fix delays or respond to requests, these three types of documents commonly matter:

Documents you’ll typically need:

• Your SSDI application or claim number, or your Social Security number and government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, or passport) to verify your identity with SSA.
• Recent medical records or provider contact information if DDS is waiting for updated information; this can include clinic names, doctor names, addresses, and dates of visits or hospitalizations.
• Work history and wage records, such as recent pay stubs or employer contact information, if SSA has questions about when you stopped working or if you are working while your claim is pending.

Having these ready when you call or visit your Social Security field office makes it easier for the worker to tell whether the delay is on SSA’s side, DDS’s side, or with a medical provider.

Step-by-step: How to check your SSDI status and what happens next

1. Create or log into your my Social Security account

Your concrete action today: Go to the official Social Security website and sign in or create a my Social Security account, then select the disability application section to view your status.
If your application is in the system, you’ll typically see whether it has been received, is under review, or has a decision.

What to expect next: The online status page often shows whether SSA or DDS is waiting for medical records, whether they have scheduled or requested a consultative exam (a medical exam ordered by SSA), or whether a decision has been made and a letter has been mailed.

2. Call your Social Security field office if online access doesn’t work

If you can’t access your online account or the information is unclear, call your local Social Security field office using the phone number from the .gov office locator.
Have your SSN, date of birth, and mailing address ready so they can locate your claim and verify your identity.

What to expect next: The field office staff can usually see whether your case is at the field office stage (intake or technical review) or at DDS for medical determination, and they can tell you if any forms or responses are outstanding on your side.

3. Ask specifically what your current status means

When you reach SSA (online or by phone), look for or ask about the exact wording of your SSDI status, not just “pending.”
Common phrases include: “Application received,” “Sent to Disability Determination Services,” “Medical review in process,” “Decision made,” “Approved,” “Denied,” or “Appeal pending.”

What to expect next:

• If your status says “At DDS” or “Medical review in process,” it typically means DDS is gathering and reviewing records, and they may contact you or your doctors.
• If it says “Decision made” or you’re told a decision was issued, you should watch your mail for a decision letter explaining approval or denial and what happens next.

4. If the status is “pending,” check whether someone is waiting on you

A very common cause of delay is that SSA or DDS is waiting on something.
Ask specifically: “Is there anything you are waiting for from me, my doctors, or my former employer?”

If they say they are waiting on a medical record or a questionnaire:

• Medical records: Ask which doctor or clinic and which dates of treatment; you can then contact that provider yourself and ask that they respond to DDS’s request.
• Questionnaires or forms: These might be function reports, work history reports, or pain/fatigue questionnaires that were mailed to you with a return deadline.

What to expect next: Once you or your providers send in the missing information, DDS will add it to your file; your status usually stays “in process,” but the case can move toward a decision once everything is received.

5. If you see “approved,” understand what happens before payments start

If your SSDI status shows “approved” or a worker tells you your claim has been allowed, that usually means the medical and technical decisions are complete.
However, your first payment may not arrive immediately.

What happens next after approval:

• SSA typically calculates your benefit amount, back pay, and onset date (the date they say your disability began).
• You’ll receive an official award letter explaining your monthly benefit, payment start month, and any withholdings, such as for attorney fees or overpayments.
• Your online my Social Security account will usually begin to show payment dates and amounts when they’re scheduled.

Payments are never guaranteed on a specific date until SSA sets them up, and timelines can vary based on workload and any additional checks SSA needs to do.

6. If you see “denied,” note deadlines and appeal quickly if you disagree

If your status shows “denied” or your letter says your SSDI claim was not approved, your status is still important because it determines your appeal options and deadlines.
Your denial letter will list the type of decision and the deadline (often 60 days from the date on the letter) to appeal.

Your next common options are:

• Reconsideration (first-level appeal in most states).
• Hearing before an Administrative Law Judge if reconsideration is also denied.

Concrete next action if you disagree:Call your Social Security field office and say, “I received a denial on my SSDI application dated [date]. I want to file an appeal. What is the next step in my case, and what appeal form should I submit?”
Typically, you can appeal either online through SSA’s official portal or by mailing/bringing appeal forms to your field office.

What to expect next: Once SSA receives your timely appeal, your status will usually change to “reconsideration pending” or “hearing requested,” and your case moves into the appeal queue.

Real-world friction to watch for

Real-world friction to watch for
A frequent snag is that DDS sends you questionnaires or exam notices by mail, and the letter arrives late, gets misplaced, or looks like generic mail and is accidentally thrown away; if you don’t respond or miss the scheduled consultative exam, DDS may deny your SSDI case for “failure to cooperate.” If you suspect this happened or you realize you missed a deadline, contact your Social Security field office immediately, explain the situation, and ask if the case can be reopened or if you can still complete the needed forms or exam.

How to avoid scams and get legitimate help checking SSDI status

Because SSDI involves monthly cash benefits and personal identity information, you should take basic precautions when checking or discussing your SSDI status.

Use these safeguards:

• Only use .gov websites for logging into an online account or finding office phone numbers; avoid look-alike sites that charge fees or ask for your password.
• SSA will not charge you a fee just to let you check your SSDI status; if a website or person demands payment for “faster approval” or “unlocking your status,” treat it as suspicious.
• When someone calls claiming to be from Social Security, don’t give your full SSN or bank info if you aren’t sure; instead, hang up, look up the official SSA or local office number yourself, and call back.
• If you hired a licensed attorney or representative, they can usually see the status of your SSDI case through SSA’s electronic records and can explain what each note or status means; they typically only collect a fee if you win, and SSA regulates how much they can charge.

Once you’ve checked your SSDI status through one of the official channels and know whether your case is pending, approved, or denied, your next step is either to submit any missing information they’re waiting on, to wait for the upcoming decision letter, or to begin an appeal within the stated deadline if you disagree with a denial.